midsummer night's dream

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Act I, Scene 1
1. How is Hippolyta’s reasoning concerning how quickly the next four days will pass different from that of Theseus?

Hippolyta is assuring Theseus that he doesn't have to be so eager, saying that 4 days will pass quickly and will make the wedding day even more special.

2. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do?

Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus to try to settle the argument once and for all. Egeus expects Theseus to allow him to make Hermia marry Demetrius or face the penalty of death.

3. What was the proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus and Theseus? What is Theseus’s ruling concerning Hermia?

According to Egeus and Theseus the women/daughters of Athenian society must obey their male counterparts such as father or husband. Theseus tells Hermia she can either listen to her father and marry Demitrius, face death or live a single life forever.

4. How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena complicate things?

It seemed to have had some effect on Theseus's actions, afterwards Theseus called Egeus and Demitrius for some private schooling. Also now everyone knows about the fact that Demitrius is not a consistent man and people like Egeus and Theseus might start to have some doubt.


5. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly impossible situation? Why do they tell Helena?

Lysander tells Hermia they can go live with his aunt who is rich and live outside of Athenian laws. There they can get married with no worries what so ever. They told Helena to explain that Hermia did not love Demitrius, and this was her chance to get Demitrius to love her again.

6. Even though Helena loves Demetrius and is Hermia’s best friend, why does she decide to tell Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander’s plans?

She thinks by telling Demitrius this information he would fall back in love with her.

7. Identify Hermia’s basic dilemma. What are the choices outlined for her by Theseus and her father? What other choice does Lysander suggest?
Hemria's dad wants her to marry Demitrius and not Lysander. She has the choices between marrying Demitrius, facing death or living a single life forever. Lysander suggests they go live with his aunt who is well off and out of reach from Athenian law.

Act I, Scene 2
8. Why does Nick Bottom want to play all the parts?
He thinks he can do all the parts better than anyone else.
9. In what way is this scene funny? Why do you suppose Shakespeare included this scene?
If think its funny because Bottom's ego is just embarrassing, Shakespeare probably included this scene to describe how unprofessional all these actors are .
10. Where are the actors to meet the following night? Who else is meeting there at the same time?
They are planning to meet outside by the forest, which is the same place Lysander and Hermia are planning make their escape from.
11. How would you describe Bottom’s acting ability? What is Bottom’s own opinion of his acting ability?
. Well he is really confident which is good, i would say his acting ability is probably better than the rest of the crew. In His opinion he thinks he is the best actor and he can do the whole play by himself.


midsummer night's dream podcast by jerry and oliver

Act II, Scene 1

10. What does the reader find out about the current relationship between Oberon, King of the Fairies, and Titania, Queen of the Fairies, from Puck and the first fairy?

The conversation between Puck and the fairy tells the reader that things are not so well between Titania and Oberon. In the lines: "The King doth keep his revels here tonight. Take heed the Queen come not within his sight,For Oberon is passing feel and wrath ", what puck is trying to say is that they should not let them meet or they will argue again.

11. How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with Theseus and Hippolyta; why have they come to Athens?

Titania accuses Oberon of loving Hippolyta while Oberon accuses Titania of love Theseus. They have come to Athens to attend Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding.

12. What effect has their quarrel had on nature, on the seasons, on humans?

Titania says that their quarrel brings high winds, fog, rain, and floods. They will make each of the seasons unbearable such as harsh winters. The humans will suffer lost crop and rotten crops, their fields will be flooded and disease will spread.

13. Why won’t Titania give up the changeling to Oberon?

Titania will not give the changeling to Oberon because she promised the mother which was her servant and good friend that she would take care of the child.

14. What does Oberon send Puck to find?

Oberon sends puck to find pansies(flowers), which have the effect of cupids arrows.

15. What are Oberon’s plans for Titania?

He would use the flower's dew on her while she sleeps so she wakes to something vile and falls in love with it.

16. How does Helena react to Demetrius’s verbal abuse?

No matter how bad he insults her, she manages to change it into something good.

17. What is her response to his threats of physical abuse?

She says she is not afraid because he is her world and she feels as safe as ever.

18. In what way is Helena’s behaviour inappropriate for Athenian women?

She is chasing after her love, Demetrius, but in Athenian society it should be the men chasing after their love not women having to chase their love.

19. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about Demetrius and Helena?

Oberon tells puck to put the love dew into Demetrius's eyes so he would wake and see Helena, therefore falling in love with her.

Act II, Scene 2
20. Why does Oberon want Titania to wake and fall in love with some vile thing?

To get back at her for embarrassing him earlier when they met and argued.

21. Why does Hermia insist Lysander sleep a little ways from her?

She dosent want to have any of that till they are married.

22. Why does Puck anoint Lysander’s eyes?

Puck mistakened Lysander for Demetrius so he put the love dew into Lysander's eyes.

23. How does Helena react to Lysander’s sudden love for her when he awakens?

She thinks its impossible and he must be mocking her, so she runs off.

24. How is Hermia’s dream a reflection of reality?

Hermia's dream is a reflection of reality because a snake eating her heart is like Lysander breaking her heart, which will happen when she find out that Lysander is in love with Helena.


Act III, Scene 1
25. How are the actors going to keep from scaring the ladies when Pyramus kills himself or when the lion roars?

For both of those things they are going to write a prologue telling the audience that the death is not real and neither is the lion.

26. How are the actors going to manage the setting/scenery such as the moonlight and the wall?

For the moonlight they were either going to let the moon light shine through a window or have someone carry a lantern. The wall would be an actor just pretending to be one by standing there.

27. Why do the rest of the actors run off when Bottom reappears?

They think he is a monster because he walks out with an ass's head.

28. What does Puck plan to do when he follows after the other actors?

He said he'll lead them around and take the form of many different animals while he is at it.

29. How does Bottom react to Titania and the other fairies?

He was not surprised by them at all , in fact he is loving the attention they are giving him and already making him self feel at home and being really talkative.

30. Bottom says, "…reason and love keep little company together nowadays." Why is this such an apt statement at this point in the play?

All of the people who are in love don't really have reason, such as the fighting pair( Oberon and Titania), Theseus marrying Hippolyta because he conquered her..ect

Act III, Scene 2
31. What does Hermia accuse Demetrius of doing?

Hermia accuses Demetrius of killing Lysander.

32. How are Puck and Oberon going to correct Puck’s earlier mistake?

They are going to put love juice in Lysander's eyes and make him fall in love with Hermia and do the same with Demetrius to Helena.

33. Why is Helena upset when Demetrius says he loves her? Isn’t this what she had wanted all along?

She thought he was also in on the big joke and mockery started by Lysander.

34. Of what does Helena accuse Hermia?

Helena accused Hermia of letting Lysander mock and make fun of her misfortunes.

35. How close had Hermia and Helena been in the past?

They grew up together and were the best of friends.

36. How does Lysander treat Hermia? Why can’t she believe what he says?

He treats her like trash and says he hates her. She could not believe her ears because just the other night he was in love with her.

37. Of what does Hermia accuse Helena?

Hermia accuses Helena of stealing Lysander's heart.

38. Why is Helena afraid of Hermia?

Helena is afraid of Hermia because she is fierce and wants to hurt her for stealing Lysander.

39. What are Lysander and Demetrius going off to do?

They went off to fight each other and deciding who gets Helena.

40. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about the two young men?

He tells puck to separate them and tire them out so he can make Lysander fall in love with Hermia again.

41. What is Oberon going to do about Titania?

He is going to release her from the charm after she hands over the indian boy.

42. Why doesn’t Oberon fear the coming of day?

He says he is immune to the coming of day and he can still use his powers during the day.

43. How well does Puck’s trickery work?

He manages to use voice mimicry to separate them and tire them to sleep.

Review Question: The climax, or turning point, of A Midsummer Night’s Dream comes at the end of Act 3. In point form describe the major plot points of Act Three starting from when Titania falls in love with Bottom leading to the climax or turning point of the play near the end of act three.

-Titania falls in love with bottom
-Oberon figures out puck messed up his plans
-Demetrius wakes up and falls in love with Helena
-Hermia enters and starts fighting with Helena after Lysander said he hated her
-the two men run of to fight each other for Helena
-Oberon sends puck to fix everything
-Puck successfully separates and tires them out
-everyone falls asleep


Act IV, Scene 1
44. How has Bottom adjusted to the attention of Titania and her fairies?

It seems as if he instantaneously adjusted to the attention of Titania and fairies by ordering them around to do his bidding.

45. What is Oberon’s reaction to Titania’s infatuation with Bottom?

He is starting to feel guilty and jealous of what he has done.
46. What sort of explanation will Oberon make to Titania’s question about what happened to her?
He avoided the question by changing the subject and asking if she wanted music.

47. Why are Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and the others out in the woods so early in the morning?
They were out in the woods early in the morning for hunting.

48. What is Theseus’s first explanation of why the young people are asleep in the woods?
He says they are here early to observe the rite of may and came in grace of his solemnity.

49. What explanation does Demetrius make? Why does he compare his love for Hermia to an illness?
He said that after Helena told him of Hermia and lysander's plans he went after them, but then fell in love with Helena again.
He was comparing the sickness of loathing food to lusting her but then coming to his sense that he truly loved Helena.

50. What is Theseus’s decision concerning the four young people?
He decides to over ride Egeus's will and let all of them marry on same day too.

51. Why can’t the young people be sure whether they are awake or dreaming?
They feel as if it were a dream, but at the same time it seemed too vivid and real.

52. Bottom believes he too has had a dream. How is he going to use that to entertain the Duke?
He is going to get Peter to write him a ballad based on his dream to perform.

Act IV, Scene 2
53. What opinion do the other artisans now have of Bottom since they think he is lost?
They think he is the lead of their play and no ones else can do the part better, so there is no way to perform the play.

54. What do they most regret losing by not being able to perform the play?
They seemed really eager to get payed.

55. Why must the artisans hurry to the Duke’s palace?
Borrom came back and told them their play was selected and there was still some time to perform it.

Extending the thought process.

a) The fourth act opens and ends with Bottom at center stage. What is your opinion of Bottom’s character? How might he be the antithesis, or opposite, of Theseus’s character?

Bottom is a unique character in this play he seems like the only character that has a big ego and act outlandishly all the time. Theseus seems more of the formal and strict type of person, while Bottom is careless and big headed. In my opinion Bottom is the stereotypical big ego, think he is the best of them all type of person, always thinking he can do better than others.

b) How do most of the dreamers respond to the dream experience upon waking? Which character is changed permanently by the dream experience?

Most of them thought it was a dream but still half mind idly thought it was maybe real.
Demetrius was changed permanently by his dream experience because now he is in love with
Helena.

c) In this act, several characters look back at prior infatuations with disbelief. What do you think Shakespeare is saying about love and infatuation?

I think what Shakespeare is trying to get at with his ideas of love and infatuation is it may not always turn out the way you believe it will. Maybe you would think that you will love someone forever and not possibly anyone else,but change immediately the next day. Shakespeare is saying that love and infatuation is unstable, many things could change and affect the outcomes.

Act 4 Podcast: Bottom decides to commission Peter Quince to write a ballad called “Bottom’s Dream.” On your own or with a partner, imagine that you have been asked to write the lyrics and compose the musical accompaniment. Remember that at the beginning of act 4, Bottom told the fairies that he likes to listen to the “tongs and bones” (act 4, scene 1, line 30). Tongs were pieces of metal struck against each other and bones were actual bones. These instruments were used in comical or in less sophisticated musical performances. Write the poetry for the ballad ( a minimum of 2 stanzas, 4 lines each), then put it to music!

Love keeps little company with reason,
I said as she fell in love with me,
Small fairies obeying to avoid treason,
From the queen making my will be.

My wish and word is their command,
Me, their lord, god and master i’d deem,
pleasures and services i could demand,
but all this seemed nothing but a dream.

Act V
56. Why does Theseus dismiss the stories of the four young people?

He says they are just hallucinating because of their love and there was no way hat it could have possibly have happened.

57. Why does Theseus choose to see the play about Pyramus and Thisby rather than the other entertainments?

The other entertainments were not as fitting and he found it intriguing that the play was a tragical mirth.

58. Why does Philostrate try to keep Theseus from seeing the play? What does he say is wrong with it?

He says though it is brief the play feels like an eternity, none of the actor play their part well and his tears came from laughing at the ridiculousness.

59. What does Theseus mean by the lines, "For never anything can be amiss, when simpleness and duty tender it"?

It can never go wrong if you just put your heart into it.

60. What is accomplished by having the Prologue tell the whole story that the actors are then going to enact?

The audience now knows exactly whats going to happen which ruins the actual storying telling part of the play.

61. How does Shakespeare use comments from the audience to enhance the humour of the play that they are watching?

He uses he audience to explain of the ridiculous things that the actors implement into the play, such as having the wall talk.

62. What is Hippolyta’s reaction to the play?

She says its the silliest thing she has ever seen.

63. In what way is Thisby’s final speech humorous?

She described Pyramus with female features such as lily lips,sweet eyes, cherry nose and said his eye are green as onions.

64. What does Oberon tell the fairies to do?

Oberon tells the fairies to dance throughout the house and bless all the lovers.

65. What is the purpose of Puck’s final speech?

He is telling the audience if they did not like the play just think of it as a dream, but if they did like it please spread the word.

Extending the thought process:

FInd at least one example of each of the following that occurs during the play within the play. Write down the quote that illustrates example.
excessive alliteration-gracious,golden,glittering,gleams
breaking the play’s illusion of reality Moonshine reassures the audience during the middle of the play:
All that i have to say,is, to tell you that the lantern is the moon...ect
using the wrong word or name-Thy stone, with lime and hair knit up in thee.
Stone does not have hair they must have meant another word.
repeating a word excessively O night:
O grim looking night! O night with hue so black!
O night which art when day is hot!
O night,O night!alack alack alack
ridiculous metaphor-These cheery nose
Does she mean that Pyramus's nose is red as a clowns?
That is pretty ridiculous.

a) In reading the play-within-a-play, we become the audience for the drama played out by Theseus, Hippolyta, and the others. These performers, in turn, form the audience for the reenactment of Pyramus and Thisbe. How does observing another audience help you understand the relationship between audience and performers?

When watching a play within a play and seeing how the audience within the play reacts to the play they are watching helps me understand how usually we would act when we watch the play, such as making comments about it, and conversing about the acting or maybe the ridiculousness of some actors.The audience's reaction and mood to the play also helps me understand the play more.

b) Modern television shows often create comic effects by having a silly, innocent, or “clueless” character and a sarcastic, knowing, clever character play off of each other. What examples can you think of?

Two and a half men,family guy, and the office.

c) Identify ways in which Pyramus and Thisbe might be unsuitable for a wedding celebration. Are there any ways in which the play might be appropriate? In what ways is the play-within-a-play an ironic commentary on what the two pairs of young lovers (Demetrius and Helena, Lysander and Hermia) have gone through earlier?

It is unsuitable for a wedding because a wedding is to celebrate a two lovers that are going to be together forever, while Pyramus and Thisbe is about two lover who end up both dying for each other. At the same time it is also appropriately symbolic of how strong the two wedded's love shall be, and they will be willing to die for each other. The play within a play is an ironic commentary on what Demetrius,Helena,Lysander and Hermia has gone through because Pyramus and Thisbe about strong love and being together forever while those two pairs have switched love between each other many times, but promised that they will love they other forever.